What do you eat when the restaurant doesn't show calories?

beekuzz

Please help by giving me ideas of what you usually go for in a restaurant without nutrition info.

EvanKeel

entree salad with some form of lean meat with dressing on the side, if possible. Or some sort of grilled lean meat with veggies. Or sometimes I just say to heck with it and order what sounds good. It depends on how the rest of the week went.

runfatmanrun

guesstimate, but be realistic. For example, pasta from olive garden is not the same as if you make it.

gobraves47

Order what sounds good and just eat a small portion.

jones137

Usually a sirloin, filet or salmon (grilled, no seasonings) with a veggie. I also ask them how many ounces the meat was so I can track.

damorzacon

Usually try to find a smallish steak, skip the potatoes and double up on whatever veggie side they offer.

trophywife24

If you go out to eat often, I would say like a previous poster said - a salad with grilled meat, dressing on the side.. or grilled chicken/small cut of steak with steamed veggies. We also live by the ocean so seafood is a better choice! However, if you don't go out a lot, just order. Eat half and take half home. We don't go out to eat very often so I don't fret that much.

EmilyOfTheSun

Fish or grilled chicken. skip the fries and get a side of veggies or fruit

Acg67

Whatever sounds the tastiest, it's not like you have be on your diet/ in a deficit at all times. Enjoy yourself and eat what you want

WickedGarden

whatever I order, be it a burger or sandwich, I ask for it 'dry' no sauces or anything, then ask for a side of something that I want in the burger/sandwich (like honey mustard) and then calculate everything individually. 1-sesame bun, 1-garden burger patty, 1 slice tomato, etc.

Or if I go out, I save my calories and over guesstimate. It's only one day, I don't sweat it.

(I do get annoyed when I ask for dressing on the side and they don't listen :mad: )

SPNLuver83

I look in the MFP database for something similar and log that.

lizziebeth1028

Grilled chicken or shrimp, baked potato (with cottage cheese on the side), or rice and veggies or salad dressing on the side....if I'm trying to be good. If I'm overdo for a tasty meal out....then I'll just order whatever strikes my fancy and call it a spike day:drinker:

Gioooo

I skip appetizers and order whatever i want! I always know when im going to eat out for dinner so i eat really light that day so i can enjoy myself

Polly758

A burger is usually a pretty good compromise, ask for it with no mayo, maybe even with no bun, and log it later, you can easily keep it under/around 400 calories depending on how big the patty is. Even a slice of cheese will only add 100 calories.

And don't let them bring you fries! If they say "it's included" just tell them DON'T BRING THEM TO THE TABLE. (Or maybe let them bring you five fries or something lol) Otherwise you just doubled your intake.

questionablemethods

Whatever sounds the tastiest, it's not like you have be on your diet/ in a deficit at all times. Enjoy yourself and eat what you want

This. Just don't eat at restaurants a lot.

Sarahsmiles0875

And don't let them bring you fries! If they say "it's included" just tell them DON'T BRING THEM TO THE TABLE. (Or maybe let them bring you five fries or something lol) Otherwise you just doubled your intake.

This is AWESOME! If you are a fries lover..5 and that's it...never thought of that...good thing i don't go to many restaurants anymore...

verptwerp

What kind of restaurant ?

Chinese ..... steamed veggies with chicken, beef, pork, or seafood .... brown rice

Steakhouse ..... steak or chops, double or triple up on the veggies, no starch ..... no dessert

Italian ..... tricky ..... the one I use makes a fabulous grilled salmon over salad with veggies, balsamic dressing .... no dessert

Seafood ..... again with the salmon & veggies

Best of luck to you !

thankyou4thevenom

Whatever sounds the tastiest, it's not like you have be on your diet/ in a deficit at all times. Enjoy yourself and eat what you want

This. It's not like I eat out every day/week. So I'll chose what looks like it'll taste the best.

LavaRoushFiveOh

MFP has had all of the information for the restaurants we go to. If I am eating out during the week I choose lean meat and steamed veggies. I don't like salads as a meal. However, I have been allowing myself to eat "normal" on one weekend day. On those days I just eat whatever seems good and I eat only until I am satisfied. I do enter it on MFP, and I am still losing weight so its obviously not negatively affecting my weight loss. Also, you can always ask the chef whats in the food. They do weigh their portions and know exactly what is in the meal.

rovernio

every thing i can fit into my stomach

ErinBeth7

I usually try to get a salad with grilled meat or some entree with grilled meat. If it offers sides I try (dont always) to get fruit or veggies. Sometimes I just like to indulge on fries though ;-)

lizziebeth1028

Whatever sounds the tastiest, it's not like you have be on your diet/ in a deficit at all times. Enjoy yourself and eat what you want

This. It's not like I eat out every day/week. So I'll chose what looks like it'll taste the best.

I love you hair thankyouforthev!!!!

kiminikimkim

I usually eat 2 appetizers for a meal:

1 soup (avoid "cream" soups) or salad (no dressing, I ask for Balsamic vinegar only)
+
1 protein appetizer dish. Preferably a grilled meat (rather than fried) or a tartar of fish or beef.

ericarae33

Tonight I'm going to a sports bar and grill, that I don't care for, I'm ordering their "grilled" chicken breast sandwich, but no bun, and I'm getting a side of steamed veggies instead of the fries.

Depending on where we are going, if its somewhere I love, I will order what I want and eat a smaller portion!

beekuzz

Thank you so much. Everyone is very helpful. I'm so thankful that I found this site. Going to Outback Steakhouse and going for grilled fish and veggies and salad. I'll bring my own dressing. No bread and no cheese fries for me anymore.

Rilke

Whatever sounds good, but no meat or poultry unless I know where it came from. Thankfully some restaurants do include that information.

fatgirlslove

I always go with salmon/chicken and mixed veggies/grilled asparagus

infamousmk

Hotwings and beer.

myfitnessnmhoy

If you can, plan ahead! Look up calories for a bunch of common foods (hamburger, small steak with a potato and veggies, etc) and be mindful of how many calories you have available. You'll pretty quickly learn to be reasonable in your estimation of calories, if not perfect (but if you had to be perfect all the time to lose weight, we'd all be screwed!).

AsellusReborn

If you can, plan ahead! Look up calories for a bunch of common foods (hamburger, small steak with a potato and veggies, etc) and be mindful of how many calories you have available. You'll pretty quickly learn to be reasonable in your estimation of calories, if not perfect (but if you had to be perfect all the time to lose weight, we'd all be screwed!).

I do something similar; if it's a planned outing I look it up ahead of time - most restaurants publish their nutrition guidelines online.

Wonderwoman2677

I don' eat out often so I get what I want and don't worry about the cals... but I don't stuff myself either.

Salads and lean meats are usually good options.